Thrust-bearing-aligning method



May 20, 1930. M. E. LAYNE 1,759,234

THRUST BEARING ALIGNING METHOD Original Filed April 5, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 v 5% z 3 '6 f 2 "l 5. 5 3mm, 15 if" 3\ 2 m Jr 7 Z- W% I L gg 6; M

May 20, 1930. M. E. LAYNE THRUST BEARING ALIGNING METHOD Original Filed April 5, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 20, 1930. LAYNE 1,759,234

THRUST BEARING ALIGNING METHOD Original Filgd April 5, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ZQJf I W y 1930- v M. EJLAYNE I 1,759,234

THRUST BEARING ALIGNING METHOD Original Filed April 5, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 20, 1930 UNITED STATES arent venrich MAHLON n. LAYNE, or nous'ron, TEXAS, nssieuon r LAYNE & now-nun ooRronA- TIO N, OF LOS 'ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA' i THRUST-BEARING ALIGNING METHOD Original application ,filed April 5, 1924, Serial No. 704,387. Divided and this application filed September 8, 1925. Serial No. 55,056.

This invention relates to thrust bearings members, usually the lower member, has been constructed in a plurality of segments which are supported from below and dependent on the lower supporting means to hold the rubbing faces in the proper position to receive the load from the other or upper bearing member. members or shoes are perfectly constructed and held in perfect position in the bearing, there will be exerted upon one or more of the bearing shoes a greater pressure than is exerted upon the other bearing shoes with the result that the oil film on such bearing shoe or shoes will tend to break down and metal to metal contact exist between the bearing parts, with a resulting high friction and rapid wear upon the bearing members.

The art has heretofore attempted to align these bearing shoes by various means, among which might be mentioned the different types of spring mountings employed for the separate bearing shoes. Both theory and expe' rience has shown, however, that with a spring type of support for the bearing shoesythe pressure on the various bearing shoes cannot be maintained equal, and thatthe film of lu,

bricant supplied to the different shoes will break down at various points, producing the direct metallic contact between the upper and lower wearing members of the thrust hearing with the resulting undue friction and wear.

While mounting the different segmental Shoes on spring supports will permit the upper wearing member of the bearing to force the different segmental shoes into alignment, the upper bearing member of the bearing cannot so force the shoes into alignment without Unless these segmental bearing.

exerting an unequal pressure on one or more of the segmental bearing shoes as the spring support tends to hold or maintain the bear ing shoes in their original position.

I have discovered that if, in place of supporting the segmental bearing shoes upon.

spring or resilient material and depending upon the upper wearing member to force the different segmental bearing shoes down against their resilient supports and thus into alignment, the segmental bearing shoes are mounted upon a material or support which is non-resilient or deformable in nature,the separate segmental bearing shoes may be forced down against such material and be permanently set into alignment and thereafter such a support will not continually apply an unequal pressure to the different bearing shoes and a uniform pressure will be eXerted o-n thewearing surfaces of the bearing.

By this invention I have provided a thrust bearing employing a plurality of segmental bearing shoes Which are permanently sup ported in the requisite position to properly maintain an oil film between the wearing surfaces of the bearing and thus do not yield during the action of the bearing or move out of alignment. Moreover, I am able to provide such a permanently aligned bearing without having to perfectly machine and construct all the parts of the hearing; as will be apparent from the following description of the bearing and the method of aligning and constructing the same; I

I have also provided a'thrust bearing, which, when thes'haft supportedupon the bearing is rotated in itsintended direction, the oil around the bearing will be forced be tween the wearing surfaces of the bearing so as to aid in maintaining the desired film of lubricant.

The objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from a descrip'tioniof the preferred method of aligning the bearings and the thrust bearing so produced contained hereinafter.

thrust bearings embodying my inventi'on'a'ndhave illustrated the method of aligning and producing such bearings.

- In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a plan view of a thrust bearing embodying the invention, certain parts being broken away. I Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, the left side of the view being broken awayto' show the bearing as viewed in section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, and the middle portion of the 'view being broken away to illustrate one of the abutments of the lower part of the bearing. v

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken'through' the bearing on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the bearing after the application of a force suflicient to set the bearing in itsfinished position,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of'a se'gmental bearing shoe and represents the same in an inverted position.

Fig. 5 is a plan view partially broken away of the second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of Fig. 5 with the left edge view broken away to show the bearing as viewed in section on. the line 66 of Fig. 5 and the medial portion broken away to illustrate one of the abutments. I

Fig. 7 is a plan View, of a modified form of thrust bearing.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the bearing I shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a developed vertical section of t the bearing.

Fig. 10 is a developed vertical sect-ion of the means employed forsetting the bearing in alignment.

Fig. 11 is a developed vertical section of a5 modified form of bearing also showing the bearing in the process of alignment.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a further embodiment of the invention.

i the invention, the thrustbearing includes a stationary base member 1. Said base member 1 is provided on its upper side with a plurality of radially disposed abutments 2 on which rests a suspension plate 3, which in .the present instance is in the annular form.

This plate 3 should be'composed of wrought iron or low carbon steel or similar material which is deformable and of great strength,

I and which is capable ofbeing permanently set by pressureapplied theretowhile retaining a relatively high strength. Said plate or ring 3 is preferably secured to the base member 1 by means of bolts 4 passing through. the abutments 2. The upper face of these abutments 2 thus operate to support the under i face of the annular plate 3 at a plurality of points of radial zones, preferably said zones I eing disposed equidistantand circumferential about the aXis of the bearing. The'annular plate 3 being secured by the bolts 4 to the base member 1, said plate is held from rotating during operation of the bearing and the permanent set to be effected in the plate 3 will not be altered by rotating the plate 3 over the abutments' 2. It is' to be preferred for reasons hereinafter set forth that the holes in the plate 3, through which the bolts 4 pass, should bev larger than the diameter of the bolts 4. I

Supported on the upper side of the-plate 3 is provided a plurality of segmental bearing shoes 5. Said shoes are supported on the up per face of the plate at points, lines or zones disposed intermediate the abutments'2." To support the segmental bearing shoes 5, each segmental shoe 5"is providedwith aflweb 6 of reduced width, each web 6 eXtending radially with respect to the axis of the'bearing. I

Preferably the segmental bearing shoes 5 are permanently secured to the deformable plate 3 by suitable means such as bolts 7, said bolts serving to prevent the segmental shoes 5 varying their position 'with respect to the plate 3, which would result in the shoes 5 being carried from the zone of true alignment.

Then the deformable plate 3 is secured to the upper face of the abut-ments 2, it is normally formed of a flat annular plate or ring,

but of a material capable of being permanent- I I 1y set or distorted to effect the automatic alignment of the shoes 5. Preferably after the plate 3 and shoes 5 have been put in place, the upper faces or rubbing faces of the segmental bearing shoes should be simultaneously subjected to apressure sufficient to pro- 'duce a permanent set in the material of the plate 3 between the abutments, as'indicated by the curved form of such plate as shown in Figures 2 and 3. This permanent set or distortion may be produced by means of an object with a true surface resting on the shoes and thrust downwardly with'great force. If desired, this pressure may be produced directly" by means of the true face 8 of an upper bearing member 9, which should be thrust clownwardly with a slightly greater force than the force which the bearing is designed to thereafter receive or support.

In this form of the invention it should be 7 noted that the several segmental bearing shoes 5 are supported in a hammocklike manner upon the continuous deformable support I 3. By this construction, if one of the seg-, 1.

mental shoes is originally of greater height the remainder, pressure upon. the shoeswill equalize the position of the shoes, partly by drawing a portion of the plate from the adj acent shoe, thus lowering said elevated shoe and raising the adjacent shoes. This hammock like construction thus facilitates the deformable material in permanently aligning the bearing shoes.

In Figures and 6 a modified construction is shown which is somewhat of the same construction as previously described except that a segmental ring 10 is provided corresponding to the previous integral ring 3 of Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. The segments 11 of the ring 10 abut together at points 12. Each end of these segments 11 are secured to abutments 15 carried by an annular base member 13, bolts 14 being used forthat purpose.

By this construction the segmental hearing shoes 5 are supported upon a deformable material (the ring 3 or 10) and pressure eX- erted upon the securing faces of the bearing shoes will tend to permanently set thebearing shoes in alignment, by causing a permanent distortion in the plates 3 or 10. After this permanent set is attained in the plates 3 or 10, there is no tendency ofthe plates to force the segmental bearing shoes out of alignment as is found in the prior type of spring mounted segmental] shoes, but the thrust bearing 3 provided will be maintained in true alignment with equal pressure on each bearing shoe, thus permitting equal lubrication for all bearing surfaces ofthe bearing and materially eliminate friction and wear. I

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figures 7 to 10, inclusive, the bearing comprises a stationary base member 16. Said base member is provided on its upper side with a plurality of abutments 17 on which rests a suspension plate 18 which in the present instance is annular in form. This plate 18 should be composed of wrought iron or low carbon steel or such material as is relatively deformable and of great strength and 11 which is capable of being permanently set by pressure applied thereto while retaining a relatively high strength; Said plate or ring 18 is preferably secured tothe base member 1 by means of pins 19 passing vertically T through the center of the abutments 17 The upper face of these abutments 17 thus operate to support the under face of the annular plate 18 at a plurality of points at radial zones with respect to the shaft to be sup ported on the bearing, preferably said zones being disposed equidistant and circumferential about the axis of the bearing. The annular plate 18 being secured by the pins 19 to the base memberlfi. Said plate is held from rotation during operation of the bearing and the permanent set to beeiiected in the plate 18 will not be altered by rotating the plate 18 over the abutments17. It is preferable that the holes in the plate 18 through which the pins 19 pass should be slightly larger than the diameter of the pins 19.

Supported on the upper side of the plate. 18 is provided a plurality of segmental hearing shoes 20. Said shoes are supported on the upper face of the plate at points, lines or zones disposed intermittent the abutment 17. To support the segmental bearing shoes 20, each bearing shoe 20 is provided with a web 21 of reduced width, each web 21 extending radially with respect to the axis of the bearing. Preferably the segmental bearing shoes 20 are permanently secured to the deformable plate 18 by suitable means, such as bolts 22, said bolts serving to preventthe segmental'shoes 2O varying theirposition with respect tothe plate 18, which would result in the shoes 20 being carried from the zone of true alignment. I V W Whenthe deformable plate 18 is secured to the upper face of the abutments 17, it is normally formed of a flat annular plate or ring, but of a material capable of being permanently set or distorted to effect the automatic alignment of the shoes 20. After the plate. 18 and shoes 20 have been put in. place, the shoes 20 are simultaneously subjected to a pressure suiiicient to produce a permanent set in the material of the plate 18 between the abutments, such permanent set beingincheated by the curvedformof such plate as shown in Figures 9 and 10. In this embodiment of the invention, the wearing face of each bearing shoe 20 is set at a slight angle to the face of the co-acting bearing member such as is indicatedby the part 23, the object of this slight angle being to assist the oil entering the space between the part 23 and bearing shoes 20, so as to increase the oil film therebetween. This permanent set of the shoes 20 may be produced by means of angled blocks 24, which are pressed downwardly by an objectwith a true surface resting on the angled blocks 24 and thrust vertically downward with great force. The force should be greater than the force which the bearing is designed to thereafter receive or support so that after the application of such force, the bearing shoes 20 will be held unyielding in the desired aligned position.

As in the previous embodiment of the invention, is will be noted that the several hearing shoes20 are supported in a hammocklike manner upon the deformable support 18. This hammock-like construction facilitates the setting of the deformable plate 18 in the permanently set position.

In place of supporting the bearing shoes mid-way between the adjacent abutments they may be set as-shown in Figure 11, in which the bearing shoes 2O are supported closer to the abutments 17 adjacent the side of the bearing shoe 20 which is to be set in the higher position. Such a mounting for the bearing will permit the ring 18 tooffer a greater resistance to the depression of the high side of the bearing shoe 20 than to the depression of the lower side of the bearing shoe 20 and thus supplement the natural tendency of the plate 18 to hold the bearing shoes in their desired tilted position. It should be pointed out'that the angle or tilt of the bearing shoes in this and the preceding embodiment of the invention is somewhat exaggerated as in actual constructionthe tilt is very slight.

' face of the bearing.

ing shoes.

Now referring to the form of the invention shown in Figures 12-to 15, inclusive. Thethrust bearing there disclosed comprises a base member 30, which is preferably annu-V lar or ring form and provided with an annular flat bottomrecess 31 in'its upper face. The bottom of this recess 31 receives a 'quair tity of deformable material 32 which is preferably lead or similar material. I

Segmental bearing shoes 33 are supported upon the mat of deformable material 32, said bearing shoes being shaped to'fitthe' inner and outer walls ofthe recess 31, the walls thus serving to retain the bearing shoes on the mat 32. Theupper surface of the shoes 33, together constitute the lower wearing sursomewhat apart on the base member 30 and between the adjacent shoes a bar3 l extends radially with respect to the aXis of the hear ing, suchbars 34 being held down on the base30 by suitable means such as the pins 35. The bars Stare intended to entirely cover the'mat 32 between the adjacent bear- In use the bearing has the customary upper bearing member36.

This form of the invention may have its bearing shoes 33 permanently set in alignthat all the shoes have their wearing-faces aligned as in Figure 14 or they may be pressed downward by angled blocks such as 37 shown in Figure 16 to provide a slight tilt 'ing.

to the wearing surfaces of the bearings in orderto enable the lubricant to better find its way between the wearing surfaces of the bear- In either case the mat 32 will be placed firmly around the bottom of the shoes .33 and up between the space between the shoes, being held from escaping by the bars 34.

'By this construction the bearing shoes are held as in the previous embodiments of the invention in permanent aligned position so that the desired oil film may be retained between the bearing faces. 7 v

It is understood that the embodiments of The shoes 33 are spaced the invention herein described may be modi? fied in various manners without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

The invention is not limited forth in the appended claims That I claim is: i

1. A method of aligning, bearings that comprise a base, a body of resistant deform-- able material on the base, and thrust bearing segmental shoes supported onthe deformable material, which method consists in, before use of the bearing, applying pressure in substantial' excess of the working load of the bearing to all of said shoes simultaneously through the medium of a member having a surface'placed against the surface of the shoes, whereby the bearing surfaces of the shoesare all positioned in substantial alignment. r 2. A method of aligning bearings that comprise a base, a body of resistant deform-- able material on the base, and thrust bearing segmental shoes supported'on the deformable material, which method consists in, before use of the bearing, applying an overload to all of said shoes simultaneously through the medium of a rigid member having a'surface corresponding to the desired surface of the to thefdetails of construction of the embodiments of the invention shown, but is of the scope set segmental shoes whereby the bearing surface 3 of the segmental shoes are all positionedin' proper place, the pressure being applied until the bearing shoes will be maintained in'said' position by the resistant deformable body in absence of load upon the bearing.

3. A method of aligning bearings that comprise a base, a body. of resistant deformable material on the base, and thrust bearing segmental shoes supported on the deformable material, which methodconsists of applying pressure, in excess of the working load of the bearing to all of said segmental shoes simultaneously through the medium of a rigid member having angled plain surfaces whereby the bearing surfaces ofthe shoes are all positioned substantially in a common- '7 rigid member having angled plain surfaces} placed against the surface of the shoes, whereby the bearing surface of the shoes are all positioned substantially in a common p 11o placed against the surfaces-of. the shoes, 7

plane but each at a similar slight angle to said plane, the pressure being applied so that the deformable member is deformed into a position where it will maintain the bearing shoes in the desired position even in absence of a load upon the shoes. 5. A method of aligning bearings that comprise a base having spaced supporting abutments, a bridge member of resistant deformable material on the supporting abutments, and bearing shoes attached to the bridge member at points between the abutments, which method consists of applying a pressure in excess ofthe working loadof the bearing to all ofthe bearing shoes simultaneously through the medium of a rigid member having a plain surface shaped to correspond to the surface to which the surface of the bearing shoes are desired to conform, whereby the bearing surfaces of the shoes are all forced into their desired position while said resistant deformable bridge member is bent down between adjacent abutments and permanently set so that the bridge member is capable of holding the bearing shoes in their desired position with or without load upon the bearing shoes. 7

6. A method of aligning bearings that comprise a base having spaced supporting abutments, a bridge member of resistant deformable material on the supporting abutments, and bearing shoes attached to the bridge member at points between the abutments, which method consists of applying an overload to all of the bearing shoes simultaneously through the medium of a rigid member having a plain surface shaped to correspond to the surface to which the surface of the bearing shoes are desired to conform, whereby the bearing surfaces of the shoes are all forced into their desired position while said resistant deformable bridge member is bent down between adjacent abutments and permanently set so that the bridge member is capable of holding the bearing shoes in their desired position with orwithout load upon the bearing shoes.

Signed at Los Angeles, Cal, this 21st day of August 1925. MAHLON E. LAYNE. 

